By Aaron Humes: The Ministry of Health and Wellness says that over the next 12 months, the established protocol for general prescription medicines will be phased in to allow for an information campaign, aiming to revamp Belizeans’ interaction with the national health care system.
Speaking this morning, Director of Public Health and Wellness Dr Melissa Diaz-Musa appealed to pharmacists countrywide to exercise their professional judgment when dispensing medications, particularly when they are aware of the patient’s medical history: “I would like to ask the pharmacists out there to utilize [their] judgment – when a patient comes to you for a repeat prescription, you know your patient; you have seen your patient for months; you have been giving them prescription – go ahead and dispense the prescription for your patient; because we want people to continue taking their medications and we want people to have access. But we also want that pharmacists educate, inform the patient of the importance of going back to a doctor…” She added that pharmacists should be keeping files on their patients as part of their medical management.
Dr Diaz-Musa said a meeting would be held with the Pharmacists’ Association today to discuss ways forward and expectations, as well as with the Medical and Dental Association to discuss prescription trends and remind of the importance of refills of medication.
On the contraceptive issue, responding to the perception of a restriction of contraceptive use and an infringement of women’s rights, Dr Diaz-Musa reminded that emergency contraceptives are sold over-the-counter and readily available, but emphasized the importance of seeing the doctor to use the right one for a woman personally, noting that side effects vary among women: “…perhaps a friend told them that works for them, or their mother might have been on a [certain] contraceptive, but how do you really know? And I don’t want to lament or discuss in great detail side effects of contraceptives, because it’s not just a paper or prescription, it’s about what’s right for you.” She noted that some contraceptives induce heavy bleeding, disappearance of periods, and in severe cases anxiety and depression, but emphasized that different contraceptives work differently, although what is known as the “combined pill” is not recommended for women who have been pregnant and are breastfeeding as it could affect the breast milk.
Sexual and reproductive health also concerns the health of various body parts as well as mental health and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).
In all, Dr Diaz-Musa conceded to “misunderstanding” among the public and limited consultation with stakeholders and more widely with the general public.
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By Aaron Humes: The Ministry of Health and Wellness says that over the next 12 months, the established protocol for general prescription medicines will be phased in to allow for an information campaign, aiming to revamp Belizeans’ interaction with the national health care system. Speaking this morning, Director of Public Health and Wellness Dr Melissa
The post Ministry of Health announces 12-month phase-in plan for enforcement of drug prescription protocol appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
